Electrical male terminal
An electrical male terminal of this invention includes a clamp or crimp area, a main body, and a blade. Protruding members and support members of the main body act as overstress protection. A panel shield member protects a protruding guide member. In another embodiment of this invention, a protruding member extends from a first support member of the main body, and a cut-out portion at the lower portion of the main body accommodates therein the protruding member. Furthermore, in this another embodiment of the electrical male terminal of this invention, a protrusion extends from the unattached end portion of the lever member to protect the electrical male terminal from inadvertently falling out during use. The configuration or shape of the cross-section across the upper portion at the front portion of the main body and the support member at the front portion of the main body of the electrical male terminal is substantially U-shaped. The configuration or shape of the cross-section across the attached portion of the lever member of the electrical male terminal is substantially U-shaped. The electrical male terminal is formed, substantially in its entirety, as a contiguous and continuous single construction having included therein at least the main body, the clamp or crimp area, and the neck area that joins the main body and the clamp or crimp area, and/or the lever member (or tang member) and/or the blade.
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This is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/353,276 filed Jun. 21, 2021, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021-0313712-A1 published on Oct. 7, 2021, which is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/828,291 filed on Mar. 24, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,043,766 issued on Jun. 22, 2021, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/893,679 filed Aug. 29, 2019, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIt is desired that an electrical male terminal be provided with structural arrangements or features for overstress protection and guide-assist to efficiently protect and guide the electrical male terminal, and thereby prevent undesired deformation of the electrical male terminal during mating thereof with a connector assembly.
It is further desired to ensure that orientations or polarities of the electrical male terminal of this invention and a corresponding connector assembly be maintained for proper fitting therewith.
It is further desired that in another embodiment of the electrical male terminal of this invention, the tang member is prevented from inadvertently or accidentally rotating relative to the lower portion of the main body, and thereby further prevents the electrical male terminal from unraveling. This is achieved by having a protruding member extend from a first support member of a main body, and a cut-out portion at a lower portion of the main body for accommodating therein the protruding member.
It is further desired that in the another embodiment of the electrical male terminal of this invention, a protrusion extends from an unattached end portion of a lever member, the protrusion having faces angled relative to each other for promoting the lever member to deflect upward when interacting with an internal protrusion of a housing or a connector assembly, which makes it more difficult to remove the electrical male terminal from the housing or the connector assembly, thereby protecting the electrical male terminal of this invention from inadvertently falling out during use.
The configuration or shape of a cross-section across an upper portion at a front portion of the main body and a support member at a front portion of the main body of the electrical male terminal is substantially U-shaped. The configuration or shape of the cross-section across an attached portion of the lever member of the electrical male terminal is substantially U-shaped.
Further, in this invention, the electrical male terminal is formed, substantially in its entirety, as a contiguous and continuous single construction. That is, the electrical male terminal of this invention is formed as a continuous and continuous single construction having included therein, but not limited thereto, as contiguous and continuous parts: at least the main body, the clamp or crimp area, and the neck area that joins the main body and the clamp or crimp area, and/or the lever member (or tang member) and/or the blade. Also, there is no part or section of the electrical male terminal of this invention that is welded, soldered, or brazen to the electrical male terminal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe electrical male terminal of this invention is substantially box-shaped, and generally includes a tang member. The tang member includes a lever member which locks the electrical male terminal with the connector assembly. The lever member has a protruding member, which meets another protruding member extending from the main body, when the lever member is flexed. Both protruding members act as an overstress protection for the lever member; i.e., to prevent or protect the lever member from becoming deformed when the male terminal is being mated with the connector assembly.
A protruding guide member protrudes from and is attached to the tang member. A front end portion of the main body also includes a tapered portion. The front end portion of the main body further includes a panel shield member for protecting the protruding guide member. The tapered portion, along with a protruding guide member and panel guide member, of the main body, assist in guiding the male terminal of this invention when mated with the connector assembly. The front end portion of the main body transitions into a blade having a tip thereof that is also tapered. The main body further includes support members at either end thereof.
The electrical male terminal of this invention also has an orientation or polarity for proper fitment into the corresponding connector assembly, having an orientation or polarity which is also maintained for proper fitting with the electrical male terminal.
In another embodiment of the electrical male terminal of this invention, the tang member is prevented from inadvertently or accidentally rotating relative to the lower portion of the main body, and thereby further prevents the electrical male terminal from unraveling. This is achieved by having a yet another protruding member extend from the first support member of the main body, and a cut-out portion at the lower portion of the main body for accommodating therein the yet another protruding member.
Furthermore, in this another embodiment of the electrical male terminal of this invention, a protrusion extends from the unattached end portion of the lever member, the protrusion having faces angled relative to each other for promoting the lever member to deflect upward when interacting with an internal protrusion of a housing or a connector assembly. Consequently, the protrusion extending from the unattached end portion of the lever member makes it more difficult for the electrical male terminal of this invention to be removed from the housing or connector assembly, and protects the electrical male terminal of this invention from inadvertently falling out during use.
The configuration or shape of a cross-section across the upper portion at a front portion of the main body and the support member at the front portion of the main body of the electrical male terminal is substantially U-shaped. The configuration or shape of the cross-section across the attached portion of the lever member of the electrical male terminal is substantially U-shaped.
Further, in this invention, the electrical male terminal is formed, substantially in its entirety, as a contiguous and continuous single construction. That is, the electrical male terminal of this invention is formed as a contiguous and continuous single construction having included therein, but not limited thereto, as contiguous and continuous parts: at least the main body, the clamp or crimp area, and the neck area that joins the main body and the clamp or crimp area, and/or the lever member (or tang member) and/or the blade. Also, there is no part or section of the electrical male terminal of this invention that is welded, soldered, or brazen to the electrical male terminal.
As illustrated in
The unattached end portion 28 of the lever member 25 preferably has, in a cross-section along a width thereof, a substantially U-shaped form or the like, although the form thereof is not restricted thereto (see,
Further, the lever member 25 has a protruding member 35, which meets another protruding member 37 that extends from the main body 5 (see,
In operation, when the electrical male terminal 1 enters the connector assembly 90, the unattached end portion 28 of the lever member 25 is freely pushed downward and moves from the normal, relaxed state, into a flexed state (that is, the protruding member 35 approaches the another protruding member 37). Upon full insertion of the electrical male terminal 1 into the connector assembly 90, the unattached end portion 28 of the lever member 25 freely moves upward, with the return to the normal, relaxed state of the lever member 25 (that is, the protruding member 35 moves away from the another protruding member 37) (see,
Moreover, when the electrical male terminal 1 is fully inserted into the connector assembly 90, the clamp or crimp area 3 has a space or transition area 50, above neck member 52, (see,
Also shown in
The top elevational views of the clamp or crimp area 3, the main body 5, and the blade 7 are shown in
Also illustrated in
As further illustrated in
Illustrated in
Also illustrated in each of
Illustrated in
Illustrated in
The panel shield member 40 is further illustrated in
Also shown in
The front end portion 20 of the main body 5, as illustrated in
Another embodiment of the electrical male terminal, generally referred to as reference number 2, of this invention, is shown in
Further illustrated in
Furthermore, in order to protect the electrical male terminal 2 when in use, and more particularly, to support and prevent the tang member 15 from inadvertently or accidentally rotating relative to the lower portion 80 of the main body 5, which can cause the electrical male terminal 2 from unraveling (that is, the tang member 15 or the lever member 25 separating from or rotating relative to the lower portion 80 of the main body 5), a yet another protruding member 101 extends from the first support member 70. The lower portion 80 of the main body 5 is provided with a cut-out portion 105 for accommodating therein the yet another protruding member 101.
Moreover, in this invention, the electrical male terminal 2 is formed, substantially in its entirety, as a contiguous and continuous single construction. That is, the electrical male terminal 2 of this invention is formed as a contiguous and continuous single construction having included therein, although not limited thereto, as contiguous and/or continuous parts: at least the main body 5, the clamp or crimp area 3, and the neck member 52 that joins the main body 5 and the clamp or crimp area 3, and/or the lever member 25, along with the blade 7 (see, e.g.,
As further illustrated in
As illustrated in
The electrical male terminal 2 of this invention further includes a protrusion 150 extending from the unattached end portion 28 of the lever member 25, as shown in
It is noted that the remaining parts shown in
Illustrated in
Although the foregoing description is directed to the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is noted that other variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Moreover, features described in connection with one embodiment of the invention may be used in conjunction with other embodiments, even if not explicitly stated above.
Claims
1. An electrical male terminal for insertion into a connector assembly, said electrical male terminal, comprising:
- a clamp or crimp area;
- a main body attached to said clamp or crimp area, said main body having a tang member of lever member and a tapered portion, and said lever member having an attached end portion and an unattached end portion; and
- a blade extending from said main body,
- wherein a front end portion of said main body includes an upper portion and a support member, said front portion of said main body having a substantially U-shaped configuration or shape along a cross-section taken across said upper portion and said support member of said main body,
- wherein a support member of said main body includes a protruding member extending towards a lower portion of said main body,
- wherein said lower portion of said main body includes a cut-off portion for accommodating therein said protruding member,
- wherein said attached end portion of said lever member has a cross-section that is substantially U-shaped,
- wherein at least said clamp or crimp area, said main body, and a neck member that joins said clamp or crimp area and said main body are contiguous or continuous parts that form said electrical male terminal, substantially in its entirety, as a contiguous or continuous single construction, and
- wherein said main body further includes a protruding guide member, and a panel shield member that shields said protruding guide member upon entry of the electrical male terminal into said connector assembly.
2. The electrical male terminal according to claim 1, wherein said cut-off portion of said lower portion of said main body includes side portions onto which said protruding member impinge or abut against to prevent said tang member of said lever member from separating or rotating relative to said lower portion of the main body.
3. The electrical male terminal according to claim 1, wherein said unattached end portion is substantially U-shaped in cross-section.
4. The electrical male terminal according to claim 1, wherein said unattached end portion of said lever member includes side end portions and a center end portion.
5. The electrical male terminal according to claim 4, wherein said center end portion of said unattached end portion includes a protrusion extending therefrom.
6. The electrical male terminal according to claim 5, wherein said protrusion extends from said center end portion of said unattached end portion of said lever member.
7. The electrical male terminal according to claim 6, wherein said protrusion extending from said center end portion of said unattached end portion includes a plurality of faces.
8. The electrical male terminal according to claim 7, wherein at least one of said plurality of said faces interacts with a protrusion of a housing or connector assembly.
9. The electrical male terminal according to claim 7, wherein at least one of said plurality of said faces interacts with an internal protrusion of a housing or a connector assembly by having the lever member deflect upward thereby making it difficult to remove said electrical male terminal from said housing or said connector assembly.
10. The electrical male terminal according to claim 9, wherein said protrusion extending from said unattached end portion of said lever member prevents said electrical male terminal from inadvertently falling out during use.
11. The electrical male terminal according to claim 1, wherein an upper surface extending, in its entirety, along said panel shield member is substantially higher or equal in height to an upper surface of said protruding guide member.
12. The electrical male terminal according to claim 1, wherein at least said clamp or crimp area, said main body, a neck member that joins said clamp or crimp area and said main body, and said blade, are contiguous or continuous parts that form said electrical male terminal, substantially in its entirety, as a contiguous or continuous single construction.
13. The electrical male terminal according to claim 1, wherein at least said clamp or crimp area, said main body, a neck member that joins said clamp or crimp area and said main body, and said lever member are contiguous or continuous parts that form said electrical male terminal, substantially in its entirety, as a contiguous or continuous single construction.
14. The electrical male terminal according to claim 1, at least said clamp or crimp area, said main body, a neck member that joins said clamp or crimp area and said main body, said blade, and said lever member are contiguous or continuous parts that form said electrical male terminal, substantially in its entirety, as a contiguous or continuous single construction.
15. An electrical male terminal for insertion into a connector assembly, said electrical male terminal, comprising:
- a clamp or crimp area;
- a main body attached to said clamp or crimp area, said main body having a tang member of a lever member and a tapered portion, said lever member having an attached end portion and an unattached end portion; and
- a blade extending from said main body,
- wherein a front end portion of said main body includes an upper portion and a support member, said front portion of said main body having a substantially U-shaped configuration or shape along a cross-section taken across said upper portion and said support member of said main body,
- wherein said support member of said main body includes a protrusion member extending towards a lower portion of said main body,
- wherein said lower portion of said main body includes a cut-off portion for accommodating therein said protrusion member,
- wherein said unattached end portion of said lever member includes a protrusion extending therefrom,
- wherein said main body further includes a protruding guide member, and a panel shield member that shields said protruding guide member upon entry of the electrical male terminal into said connector assembly,
- wherein said attached end portion of said lever member has a cross-section that is substantially U-shaped, and
- wherein at least said clamp or crimp area, said main body, and a neck member that joins said clamp or crimp area and said main body are contiguous or continuous parts that form said electrical male terminal, substantially in its entirety, as a contiguous or continuous single construction.
16. The electrical male terminal according to claim 15, wherein said unattached end portion includes a center end portion from which said protrusion extends.
17. The electrical male terminal according to claim 15, wherein at least said clamp or crimp area, said main body, a neck member that joins said clamp or crimp area and said main body, and said blade, are contiguous or continuous parts that form said electrical male terminal, substantially in its entirety, as a contiguous or continuous single construction.
18. The electrical male terminal according to claim 15, wherein at least said clamp or crimp area, said main body, a neck member that joins said clamp or crimp area and said main body, and said lever member are contiguous or continuous parts that form said electrical male terminal, substantially in its entirety, as a contiguous or continuous single constriction.
19. The electrical male terminal according to claim 15, wherein at least said clamp or crimp area, said main body, a neck member that joins said clamp or crimp area and said main body, said blade, and said lever member are contiguous or continuous parts that form said electrical male terminal, substantially in its entirety, as a contiguous or continuous single construction.
20. An electrical male terminal for insertion into a connector assembly, said electrical male terminal, comprising:
- a clamp or crimp area;
- a main body attached to said clamp or crimp area, said main body having a tang member of lever member and a tapered portion, and said lever member having an attached end portion and an unattached end portion; and
- a blade extending from said main body,
- wherein a front end portion of said main body includes an upper portion and a support member, said front portion of said main body having a substantially U-shaped configuration or shape along a cross-section taken across said upper portion and said support member of said main body,
- wherein a support member of said main body includes a protruding member extending towards a lower portion of said main body,
- wherein said lower portion of said main body includes a cut-off portion for accommodating therein said protruding member,
- wherein said attached end portion of said lever member has a cross-section that is substantially U-shaped,
- wherein at least said clamp or crimp area, said main body, and a neck member that joins said clamp or crimp area and said main body are contiguous or continuous parts that form said electrical male terminal, substantially in its entirety, as a contiguous or continuous single construction, and
- wherein at least said clamp or crimp area, said main body, a neck member that joins said clamp or crimp area and said main body, and at least one of said blade and said lever member are contiguous or continuous parts that form said electrical male terminal, substantially in its entirety, as a contiguous or continuous single construction.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Feb 18, 2022
Date of Patent: Nov 28, 2023
Patent Publication Number: 20220173532
Assignee: J.S.T. CORPORATION (Farmington Hills, MI)
Inventors: Ping Chen (Novi, MI), Gwendolyn Upson (Ypsilanti, MI)
Primary Examiner: Gary F Paumen
Application Number: 17/675,970
International Classification: H01R 4/18 (20060101); H01R 13/432 (20060101); H01R 13/04 (20060101);